The Esfahan Seminar: Report of a Regional Seminar on Functional Literacy and Family Planning Education.

Burgess, Linda, Comp.

This report summarizes the discussion emerging from the issues raised at the Esfahan Seminar on Functional Literacy and Family Planning Education. It is divided into six chapters. Chapter I describes the seminar design, pointing out that it was structured to fulfill the major purposes of the Seminar, one of which was to help each participating country initiate demonstration projects designed to introduce population and family planning information into adult literacy programs. Chapter II defines literacy as the essential knowledte and skills which enable a person to engage in all those activities in which literacy is required for effective functioning in his group and community. Chapter III demonstrates that as the level of the wife's education went up so did the use of family planning. In Chapter IV, an explanation is given for the way in which decisions were reached about the production and use of materials and approaches in teacher training. Chapter V reports on the status of literacy and family planning programs conducted in the various countries participating in the seminar. Chapter VI summarizes and evaluates the seminar. It is concluded that, measured in terms of its stated main objective, the seminar was a success. Appendices A through F contain data on various projects. (CK)